Advocacy, Documentation Advice and Paralegal Services

For documentation advice and paralegal services, you can contact our Advocacy team.

To contact the Advocacy Programme, please send a WhatsApp message to 0782603536 and include your name if possible. Your message will be logged and one of our Advocacy Team members will get in touch with you.

Our Objective

To promote and strengthen the rights and integration of migrants and refugees in South Africa, through providing individual advice, publishing research, raising awareness, and advocating for legislative and policy reform and its proper implementation.

Accessing Advocacy, Documentation Advice and Paralegal Services

Scalabrini’s Advocacy Programme operates a paralegal advocacy advice and referral service to walk-in clients from 9am to 12pm from Tuesday to Friday. The service includes free paralegal advice and referrals in Cape Town, and practical assistance in the following areas:

Overcoming barriers in access to documentation, including assistance where clients are unable to access the asylum and immigration systems at the Department of Home Affairs.

Overcoming barriers in access to government departments and services such as assistance with UIF claims.

Access to basic rights, including the right to basic education and healthcare.

Access to justice for victims of hate crimes and xenophobia, as well as assistance for persons subject to other forms of discrimination.

Advice and referral for clients who are victims of labour exploitation.

Assistance to unaccompanied minors and separated foreign children.

Advice and assistance to persons facing potential detention and deportation from South Africa.

Our Paralegal and Advocacy Programme aims at promoting human rights and integration of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in South Africa. It does this through providing a free paralegal advice and referral service at our walk-in advice office; as well as publication of research; raising awareness; advocating for legislative and policy reform and the proper implementation of such legislation. In addition, the advocacy programme engages in litigation where necessary, in order to address systemic barriers encountered by asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in South Africa. The Advocacy Programme has four key long-term projects or focus areas. These include assistance to children’s rights; high level advocacy; documentation services; and provision of a walk-in advice and referral service.

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BROCHURE

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IMPACT REPORT 2023

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Focus Areas

To promote and strengthen the rights and integration of migrants and refugees in South Africa, through providing individual advice, publishing research, raising awareness, and advocating for legislative and policy reform and its proper implementation.

Volunteer With Advocacy

Our volunteers come from all over the world and bring a diverse set of experiences, knowledge and abilities. They support every aspect of Scalabrini’s programmes, from English lessons and administrative support, to outreach and advocacy work.

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